Chapter Text
"If you are afraid because you are no longer immortal, I will protect you with all my soul, body and heart," Arthur kissed the back of the princess's hand. "I will never, ever leave you alone—"
The atmosphere was so real, the promises made were very holy, noble—sounds like a knight's oath to their king.
When Gilgamesh finally decided to leave Arthur's inn together with Siduri, she let the King of Camelot rest for the big event that awaited him tomorrow.
Siduri breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at Gilgamesh's back walking in front of her, smiling slightly.
She had known Gilgamesh for most of her life, serving the royal family as the priestess' representative. The girl who always questioned the existence of the gods, and why they should be revered and worshipped.
She almost considered Gilgamesh as her own younger sister.
"Siduri."
"...yes?"
"If I move to Camelot, I will take you and Enkidu with me!" the princess smiled broadly with a tinge of pink that had not yet disappeared from her beautiful face.
Siduri looks at her, stunned. She felt a smile appear on her face, and nodded eagerly. "Of course, Princess!"
She had never seen Gilgamesh fall in love. But apparently, this time... she saw it.
Compared to Princess Geshtinanna, Gilgamesh is a bit disobedient, she is lazy and acts as she pleases. However, when it comes to protecting her citizens, Gilgamesh will not be half-hearted.
She can use archery and an ax which she always polishes in such a way, invoking her father's anger when she places a weapon on her bed.
For a princess to take up weapons, is it worthy of a divine beauty and courage bestowed upon her?
She took Dumuzi's place in conquering the small towns around Uruk, bringing them into the Kingdom and treating them like their own citizens.
Siduri always wondered in her heart, would Gilgamesh not be interested when she saw enemy warlords who looked handsome, or their leaders who looked dashing and strong?
A little girl approached them, handed Gilgamesh a bouquet of fresh flowers while shouting, "Congratulations, princess!"
Will the citizens of Camelot love Gilgamesh?
They walked back to the Ziggurat, where a merchant offered his expensive cloths to Queen Ninsun in the Ziggurat yard.
Queen Ninsun excitedly took the fabrics and matched them to Gilgamesh's body, measuring them and saying she would make a beautiful dress for her wedding tomorrow.
She also took a lot of blue cloth, saying she would send it to Arthur and ordered the best make-up artist to dress the King of Camelot.
Ah. Even Queen Ninsun had never been this excited before.
***
"So you're really going to marry him."
Gilgamesh glanced over her shoulder, seeing the Pharaoh standing leaning against one of the pillars with his arms crossed in front of his chest. They were on one of the Ziggurat's balconies, where the sunset view was presented beautifully before them.
"Tch, stop with your mocking tone." Gilgamesh protested causing Ozymandias to laugh loudly, approaching the princess and standing next to her. Gilgamesh narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"...and what makes you talk to me now?"
"Nothing in particular," Ozymandias smirked. "I just respect your space, so I won't approach you when your future husband is near you."
Gilgamesh huffed before resting her arms on the parapet. "I know you want to say something. Say it before I leave this place."
"Damn, you are the second person who can read me besides Nefertari."
"I've known you since we were formed an alliance. Don't pretend to be nice to me."
"Hah! As expected of Gilgamesh." the Pharaoh also leaned his arm on the parapet, still maintaining a safe distance between them. There must be no bad rumors on the night before the wedding.
But still. Gilgamesh is his best friend.
Someone who listened to his stories about his kingdom's problems, or when he was about to propose to Nefertari, Gilgamesh was in all those stories. Long ago they often trained together with Enkidu—a moment that will never be repeated.
He heard the news that Gilgamesh and Enkidu killed the guard of the Cedar Forest, Humbaba, which was proof of her strength and courage. He could only stare in awe. Their relationship became increasingly strained when Gilgamesh was banned from attending alliance meetings, while Dumuzi took her place. He became increasingly busy with his Kingdom, expanding his territory, until he received news that the King of Camelot intended to propose to his friend.
Ozymandias didn't get the slightest chance to talk to Gilgamesh since the first day, leaving fate to decide whether they would get to talk again or not. Soon, his friend will belong to someone.
He had no problem with that. As far as he was concerned, King Arthur was a good king. His fighting prowess was legendary, everyone feared him, and he thought that was the kind of husband Gilgamesh would be suitable for.
"Well? What do you want to say?" Gilgamesh glared at him. The color of the sunset sky really suited her, plus the gentle wind blowing her long hair.
Ozymandias was stunned for a moment, before sighing. "Gilgamesh, you—" He was silent for a few seconds. "—congratulation for your wedding."
He looked up in annoyance when he heard Gilgamesh's laughter booming from next to him. "Tell me, that does not sounds like you!"
"I just— sh*t," Ozymandias felt annoyed by the sound of Gilgamesh's laughter which was increasingly mocking him. "I just didn't expect you to marry King Arthur."
The Princess's laughter faded. "Is there something wrong with that, Pharaoh?"
She knew Ozymandias had his own reasons for saying that, and everything that came out of his mouth was a warning. So she narrowed her eyes with a smirk, leaning against the parapet as she stared at her friend.
"Say one bad thing about Arthur and I'll kill you."
"I don't know what to say either— I told you! King Arthur is a good king. He also seems like a really good person, right!" Ozymandias even looks angry now. "But— I can't— I don't know King Arthur as well as I know your father, so—"
"—gosh, so you're worried about me," Gilgamesh laughed, throwing her head back. "Queen Nefertari really must see this sight."
"I'm serious," Ozymandias put both hands on Gilgamesh's shoulders. "Camelot is—a city surrounded by a giant fortress that you can't even peek inside. The walls were cold as if they held something—"
Ozymandias looked hesitant for a moment and Gilgamesh lifted her chin, indicating she was ready for everything Ozymandias would say. "Say it."
The man stared at his friend. "You definitely know why King Arthur got the nickname King of Dragons."
"Because he's half-dragon...?"
"I just want to tell that you should be careful on that part." Ozymandias took a few steps back and Gilgamesh scrunched her nose.
"I'm not afraid of Dragons."
"It's you who said that." Ozymandias returned to his position leaning against the parapet. Gilgamesh glanced at him in annoyance, breathing repeatedly when she thought Ozymandias would really say something scary about Arthur.
"You know I defeated Humbaba who was dozens of times bigger than the walls of my kingdom."
"Dragons are not like Humbaba, Gilgamesh."
"Well, I bet they're almost the same in size!"
Ozymandias knew Gilgamesh was very stubborn.
"So, what creature that will pick you up tomorrow?" He changed the topic when he saw Crown Prince Dumuzi walking up the steps of the Ziggurat. The man stared at the two of them.
"It must be Humbaba," Gilgamesh voice sounds firm, but there is a little doubt in it. "I will defeat her again and finish her off until she can't appear anymore."
Ozymandias glanced at her briefly, noticed the doubt in her voice. But he knows he can’t do anything about that. "Very reassuring. I will help you."
“Oh no, Ishtar will shoot you with her bow if you touch one finger to Humbaba," Gilgamesh shook her head at Ozymandias' idea, earning the man's disappointed response. "Just look after Nefertari for me. And tell that King of Conqueror not to interfere. I will also kill you both if you get in my way."
"Fine, if that's your decision," Ozymandias moved from his position. "It's almost evening and I must be prepared to listen to the danger sirens that are sent—"
"You're being over-dramatic." Gilgamesh laughed, and Ozymandias waved at her as he descended the steps of the Ziggurat, greeting Dumuzi before disappearing around the corner of the path.
"It must be Humbaba…" Gilgamesh muttered as she rested her chin on the parapet. The wind caressed her face gently and calmly. She loved the sunset seen from Uruk, the sun clearly visible in the clear sky. She loves it even more when she enjoys the sunset in the Persian Gulf.
Looking back, she wasn't actually so sure.
Humbaba should have died long ago. She remembers when her father pulled her back from the mission to celebrate Dumuzi's coronation feast and Geshtinanna's marriage to King Arthur.
She doesn't remember anything next.
What if it was all in her head?
Yes.
She was the one who would marry King Arthur.
But, why did Humbaba come back?
***
It was almost dawn when Gawain roused Arthur from his deep sleep, shaking him as if the inn he was staying in had caught fire.
"Arthur! Arthur!"
"What is it?!" Arthur sat up quickly, staring at Gawain while his brain was still processing everything that had happened.
"Eh... I don't know why, but Pharaoh asked us to evacuate to the Ziggurat. People are also evacuating, and Lady Siduri has helped Artoria prepare to move." Gawain scratched his head, felt guilty because Arthur looked like he was going to burn the whole world down.
"Why?" The King asserted, feeling that waking him before dawn was unimportant—
Gawain knew Arthur was upset. He himself was also at a loss to explain it when Pharaoh broke into their inn and shook him until he fell off the bed. Agravain and Gareth took a moment to open their heavy eyes, thinking they had just arrived the night before.
"You must go evacuate, Arthur."
Gawain sighed when Gilgamesh appeared behind him, walking closer to the bed. Arthur blinked repeatedly looking at her, he even did something stupid like pinching his arm to prove that Gilgamesh before him was not a dream.
"And may I ask why?"
His tone softened when he spoke to Gilgamesh. Gawain bowed respectfully as Gilgamesh passed him and sat down at Arthur's bedside.
"Because that's an order." Gilgamesh pulled the blanket covering Arthur's body, ordering the man to immediately get out of bed. Arthur still seemed to need time for his brain to truly wake up.
"Why?"
"The creature is coming," Gilgamesh finally decided to answer. "That creature will take me."
"No..." Arthur's voice sounded pathetic as he put his weight on Gilgamesh's tiny body which immediately couldn't support him. Gawain grimaced as he helped Gilgamesh stand up straight again.
"How long did it take for him to really wake up?" Gilgamesh asked Gawain.
"Uh, half an hour?"
"I don't have time for that." Gilgamesh motioned for Gawain to help her carry Arthur out of the inn. But Arthur increasingly sticked against her body, rejecting Gawain's touch.
Gawain really wanted to laugh out loud, but seeing Gilgamesh's predicament, he held back his laughter in order to keep his head intact.
"Arthur, you're so heavy!" Gilgamesh pinched Arthur's cheecks, and this time it seemed the man was truly conscious. He looked at Gilgamesh in confusion, then glanced at Gawain who was also looking at him.
"Uh... what happened?"
"You must evacuate," Gilgamesh repeated her words. "The creature is coming. Everyone will be evacuated to the Ziggurat."
"No, I stay with you," Arthur straightened his back. "I will not leave you."
"You—" Gilgamesh glanced at Arthur sharply. "I won't allow you to join the battle!"
"Why not?!" Arthur insisted. "I will protect you, I will keep you safe. Do you doubt my strength?"
"You fool, Arthur!" Gilgamesh looks emotional now. Gawain noticed the tense atmosphere, slowly walked towards the door and left the room. "You won't be able to be my husband if you die!"
"I will not die, I will live with you forever," Arthur grabbed Gilgamesh's arm. "I love you. I won't leave you."
He lowered his head, kissing Gilgamesh gently. The Princess couldn't escape from the sudden kiss.
"Stupid..." She whispered as Arthur broke the kiss. "Do you think it's too soon to tell someone you've only known a few days that you love them?"
"Not for you." Arthur sounded very confident in his words, taking Gilgamesh into his arms. Gilgamesh didn't shy away from the hug, listening to Arthur's heartbeat that felt comforting.
She would listen to it as if it were her favorite beat.
Because she couldn't see what would happen after the dawn came.
***
When dawn finally broke, everyone has done prepare for the battle.
Geshtinanna stood on the balcony of her room, smirks. "It's time."
"Are you ready, Enkidu?"
Enkidu turned to Gilgamesh who put the last piece of armor on her leg, before standing up and glance at her best friend once more.
"Oh, I've never been so ready before, my king!"
The north wall may have looked the strongest, but that morning an emergency report was sent. A slimy, fleshy creature was seen dragging itself towards the wall, melting every brick that made it up.
The soldiers ran around, shooting arrows and spears that seemingly in vain. The disgusting creature continued to drag itself closer to the city center, where the wedding was being held.
The battle begins.
It was a surprise when that morning Ishtar visited the Ziggurat, saying that she would also join in fighting Humbaba who was now in an unclear form. She would not allow Uruk and its citizens to be harmed, she said.
King Lugalbanda was really serious about ordering all his troops to come forward and help some of his citizens who had not finished evacuating. He entertains the guests of his fellow Kings in the throne room and says not to worry.
However, Arthur sat down anxiously. Gilgamesh said she would pick him up when they were ready to fight, but until now the princess had not been seen.
King Lugalbanda seemed to realize Arthur's concern, he called one of the maids and asked her Gilgamesh whereabouts.
"—where is Gilgamesh? Call Gilgamesh here. She won't be going anywhere while this lasts."
Another maid came running over in panic. "Your Majesty, the princess is not in her room—!!"
"What-?!" The panic on the king's face broke out. Queen Ninsun almost fainted.
"S-she's on the front lines with the Goddess Ishtar and Enkidu!" A bodyguard standing on the balcony shouted.
"That kid-!"
Humbaba roared, and the people ran away in fear. The soldiers helped evacuate the remaining residents to take refuge in the direction of the Ziggurat.
"I'm here."
She was silent for a moment before roaring wildly again. A hand-like mass reached out for Gilgamesh, but the chains of heaven immediately stopped its movement.
"You're not allowed to touch her." Enkidu threw her long hair behind her shoulders.
"I hate to say it, but pretty good job," Ishtar flew low, hovering next to Gilgamesh. "You are lucky, Princess of Uruk."
"It's not over yet," Gilgamesh crossed her arms. "This creature must die and should never awakened again!”
"That is right," Ishtar floated in the air again. Her bow was raised, ready to attack. "This time, I agree with you."
Gilgamesh prepared to jumped into the battle again when a golden runes appeared and bound her body. She couldn’t move and roared angrily when she saw her father walks to her with Arthur running behind him. Holy Sword Excalibur ready in his right hand, and his face was truly worried.
“FATHER!”
“What are you doing, Gilgamesh?!”
Gilgamesh pursed her lips in annoyance. “LET ME GO!”
King Lugalbanda was as stubborn as his daughter. “I WILL PUNISH YOU FOR YOUR IMPUDENCE.”
He let go of his runes, motioning to Gilgamesh to follow him. Gilgamesh huffed and descended her armor return only with her wedding dress, glancing at Enkidu.
As Gilgamesh followed in her father's footsteps, Artoria said while shaking, "Arthur, this aura—"
Arthur narrowed his eyes. "There's no mistaking it—this is the reaction the Holy Grail gives."
The legend of the King of Camelot who pursued absolute power from the Holy Grail is no longer foreign to the public.
Gilgamesh, who heard this, saw a golden opportunity.
"Then let me get it for my wedding gift!" With one great courage the girl leapt into the air, releasing her holy blessing— The Gate of Babylon immediately fired thousands of weapons at Humbaba.
"GILGAMESH!" Lugalbanda was furious this time, but Gilgamesh didn't care.
Enkidu tightened her chains, while Gilgamesh attacked wildly with her gates.
She wielded two swords joined together, forming a golden bow before shooting the creature in the core.
Humbaba writhed angrily and roared, getting increasingly crazier until Enkidu couldn't hold back its grip any longer.
When Gilgamesh returned in her armored form, she delivered the final attack by kicking the creature so that it was thrown out of Uruk Fortress.
She landed on the ground with Enkidu next to her, throwing her long hair behind her shoulders imperiously.
"Amazing," Ishtar laughed with satisfaction. "You have to cut it open to get the Holy Grail, you know!"
"I know that." Gilgamesh lunged back at the monster, kicking it again until the creature rolled even further.
"Arthur, it seems I will fear our new Queen—" Gawain muttered under his breath. "—look at that crazy power—"
"-Impossible!!!" A scream made them turn around. They looked at Geshtinanna who was standing with shaking legs.
"—how can it be— I saw it with my sight— Gilgamesh is going to die—!!!"
Ishtar's face looked sour. "One who steals another's blessing will not gain a vision of the truth," She glanced sharply at Geshtinanna. “…and you are the one who awakened Humbaba again, right? Using the power of the Grail, you intended to kill Gilgamesh on her wedding day.”
"Goddess Ishtar—" Geshtinanna hissed. "What have you done—"
"—even you and Dumuzi celebrated my death. How can I tolerate all your actions against me?"
Uruk's hot wind blew gently, allowing silence to reign, before a thundercloud came from the direction of the Persian Gulf.
"She'll use—!" Enkidu shouted happily. "—that weapon!!"
"Hey stupid, take out the Holy Grail first!" Ishtar shouted at Gilgamesh who immediately scowled.
With a lift of her hand, a giant gate opened above the creature, bringing down the giant Marduk's ax which sliced through the creature.
The smell was very unpleasant, and Humbaba roared in pain. Gilgamesh removed her armor, then carefully climbed to the creature's core, poking at the open wound caused by Marduk's axe.
The creature's howls of pain grew louder as Gilgamesh's hand dug around the wound, and when she pulled, it didn't come back empty. A golden Holy Grail was in her hand.
While her heart hummed in victory once again, Gilgamesh descended from above the creature only to receive a fatal blow from the creature.
***
"GILGAMESH!" Arthur who shouted in great anxiety lunged forward with the holy sword Excalibur in his hand, cutting off every hand of the creature that tried to reach the thrown Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh coughed. Her eyes widened when she saw blood coming out of her mouth which tasted like iron.
She tried to move her body, but immediately experienced excruciating pain, realizing that her stomach was torn open.
"My child!!" Queen Ninsun shouted while crying, as even Artoria and Gawain jumped into the battle to help Arthur.
Ishtar opened her ultimate attack to finish off the creature.
But even An Gal Ta Kigal She of the Goddess was not enough to overthrow the creature who was angry at having its Holy Grail taken from its core.
Enkidu deployed her chains again, trying to block the creature's attack.
Gilgamesh was furious. Very annoyed.
“How dare a lowly creature like you—take my place!”
Thunder rumbled overhead, and the sky split open—
“I will tell you of the beginning.”
"That's bad!" Ishtar shouted from the sky. "You all get out of there!"
”Heaven and Earth split, nothingness congratulated creation, my Sword of Rupture cleaved the world!”
"What the—" Arthur didn't have time to say anything when he felt a terrifying aura. The wind swirls at a center, everything looks red.
“Mortar of the stars, heaven's hell is the eve of creation's celebration.”
"Everyone get out of the way!!"
“Now you shall die and be silent... Enuma Elish!”
Lightning struck, and the creature sank into a deepest depths of darkness that destroyed everything around it. It was like creating a storm—it felt like the world was being reforged again.
They closed their eyes when the red light pierced their eyes, and when they opened them again, everything back to normal.
The creature was gone, not leaving any of its parts behind.
They saw Gilgamesh standing in the distance with a weapon in her right hand. She's breathless, and the wind swayed her long hair.
"Every creation that exists will surely meet its end."
"Gilgamesh!" Enkidu waved her hand when the princess turned to them.
Gilgamesh smiled slightly, returning Ea to her place before realizing her appearance. sh*t, she ruined her wedding dress!
At least she had the Holy Grail in her hands, spinning it while enjoying the beauty that radiated from the Holy Grail.
"Are you okay?" Queen Ninsun ran in panic, checked her daughter's wound and was shocked to realize that it was completely closed. She cupped Gilgamesh's face in both hands, kissing her cheek brutally.
Gilgamesh was surprised when Lugalbanda also came to hug her. She smiled, returned her father's hug and said that she would always be okay.
Arthur smiled slightly, when Gilgamesh approached him while turning the Holy Grail in her hand.
"I got it first, King Arthur."
"But you got this." She grabbed Arthur by the collar, causing the man to bend down and Gilgamesh took the opportunity to kiss him on the lips.
Arthur— dissatisfied— lifted Gilgamesh into his arms, deepening their kiss.
"Aww," Ishtar the Goddess of Love laughed which made Gilgamesh puff out her cheeks, feel laughed at. "You don't want to give the grail to your future husband?"
"Nope," The Princess threw the Holy Grail into one of the open gates, which immediately swallowed it—keeping it safe.
"What-?!" Artoria and Gawain shouted at the same time.
"Now, now," Gilgamesh wiggled her legs in Arthur's arms. "Should we continue the wedding procession?"
